User specified fill - r

Question

I am using ggvis and have the following code with a selectInput on the UI side allowing the user to select which variable dictates fill and shape (inputId is fill and shape respectively). I want the plot to have the ability to have a constant fill or shape should the user choose. The else section of this code works exactly how I want, but when I select the option in the if statement the app crashes with the following error:
Error in eval: could not find function ":="
I know I have the syntax correct because if I suppress the legends and the if/else statement and specify the fill as constant (fill := "black") it works how I want it to.
Any help would be appreciated.
vis <- reactive({
fillvar <- prop("fill", as.symbol(input$fill))
shapevar <- prop("shape", as.symbol(input$shape))
filteredData() %>%
ggvis(x = xvar, y = yvar) %>%
layer_points(size.hover := 200,
fillOpacity:= 0.5, fillOpacity.hover := 1,
# Allows for points to be consistent if the user desires
if (input$fill == "All Points Black") {
fill := "black"}
else {
fill = fillvar}
,
if (input$shape == "All Points Circles") {
shape := "circle"}
else {
shape = shapevar}
,
key := ~ID
) %>%
# Adds legends to the Plot in designated locations
add_legend("fill", title = as.character(fillvar)) %>%
add_legend("shape", title = as.character(shapevar), properties = legend_props(legend = list(y=300))) %>%
# Adds the previously defined tool_tip my_tooltip
add_tooltip(my_tooltip, "hover") %>%
# Specifies the size of the plot
set_options(width = 800, height = 400, duration = 0)
})
#Actually plots the data
vis %>% bind_shiny("plot1")

Answer 1

As I mentioned in a comment, you can create a variable for prop using an if statement. This allows you to bypass the issue of := by using either a constant or a variable directly in prop.
You get legends automatically. To control the placement when you have two legends (which will lead to an overlap), you can name your ggvis graph. This allows you to refer to add elements to the graphic in order to move the second legend down only when it is added based on logic and your shapevar and fillvar values.
Here's the code just for the reactive function.
vis <- reactive({
fillvar = "black"
if(input$fill != "All Points Black") {
fillvar = as.name(input$fill)
}
shapevar = "circle"
if(input$shape != "All Points Circles") {
shapevar = as.name(input$shape)
}
p1 = filteredData() %>%
ggvis(x = xvar, y = yvar) %>%
layer_points(size.hover := 200,
fillOpacity:= 0.5, fillOpacity.hover := 1,
prop("fill", fillvar),
prop("shape", shapevar),
key := ~ID
) %>%
# Adds the previously defined tool_tip my_tooltip
add_tooltip(my_tooltip, "hover") %>%
# Specifies the size of the plot
set_options(width = 800, height = 400, duration = 0)
# Control addition of second legend using if() on p1 object
if(fillvar != "black" & shapevar != "circle") {
p1 %>% add_legend("shape", properties = legend_props(legend = list(y=300)))
}
else {
p1
}
})

Answer 2

The code now is functional with input from #aosmith as I want it to be if the legend is suppressed. However, when I do this, the legend for fill and shape overlap as this post addresses.
legends on ggvis graph are overlaping when using tooltip
The fix for that is to add in a legend which makes the plot disappear if the constant data visualization option is selected. I will post a new question to try and get this issue resolved.
UPDATE: The answer below solves the original issue, but #aosmith's answer fixed a second issue that arose after correcting the first issue as well.
My code with the corrected original issue, but containing an overlapping legend (corrected with #aosmith's answer) is below.
vis <- reactive({
# Allows for points to be consistent if the user desires
if (input$fill == "All Points Black") {
fillvar = "black"}
else {
fillvar <- as.symbol(input$fill)}
if (input$shape == "All Points Circles") {
shapevar = "circle"}
else {
shapevar <- as.symbol(input$shape)}
#Plot Data with Visualization Customization
xvar <- prop("x", as.symbol(input$x))
yvar <- prop("y", as.symbol(input$y))
filteredData() %>%
ggvis(x = xvar, y = yvar) %>%
layer_points(size.hover := 200,
fillOpacity:= 0.5, fillOpacity.hover := 1,
prop("fill", fillvar),
prop("shape", shapevar),
key := ~Shot_ID
) %>%
# Adds the previously defined tool_tip my_tooltip
add_tooltip(my_tooltip, "hover") %>%
# Specifies the size of the plot
set_options(width = 800, height = 450, duration = 0)
})
#Actually plots the data
vis %>% bind_shiny("plot1")